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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
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jURING two long, hot, dusty Summers I spent days 
at a time looking for a seaside home that I had 
long before pictured in my mind's eye. Over hot, 
blistering boardwalks and barren beaches I had 
trailed, expecting to find some wood or cove away from the 
"madding crowd," where one could idle in peace and comfort. 
I knew that perfection, even in Summer resorts, is rarely 
attained, and I was about to give up the task as a hopeless 
one when a kind friend put me on to a new trail 

"Have you tried Fishers' Island?" he said. I confessed 
that I had not. "Go up next Saturday and see the place." 

So I went. 

The Boston Express took me to New London, Conn., 
that town of boat races, yacht rendezvous and Revolutionary 
memories. A few steps from the train was the steamboat 
landing, and the bustle of the deckhands transferring trunks, 
bags and boxes aboard told me plainer than words that I was 
not the only pilgrim to Fishers' Island that day. 

In a few minutes we were off. The glistening waters of 
the Sound and the smooth, gliding motion of the boat were a 
delightful change from the dusty rush of the train, and I soon 
found myself looking eagerly forward to Fishers' Island, lying 
in the blue waters of the Sound a few mUes away. As we 




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STATION ANO WHARF AT 
NEW LONDON, CONN. 




"AWKET HOTEL. 



passed down New London harbor were to be seen Fort 
Griswold, the Pequot House and the New London station of 
the New York Yacht Club, prominent features of the villa- 
lined shores of the famous inlet. 

Soon a harbor and pier came into view, with a cosy- 
looking: hotel in the background, the " Munnatawket," which, 
by the way, is the old Indian name for Fishers' Island, and 
also the name of the steamboat that was carrying us rapidly 



to this charming spot. Fishers' Island presents a gently 
undulating; surface, with here and there a group of cottages 
and statelier homes, all seemingly built in harmony with the 
general aspect of the place- Quite different from the usual 




A VIEW OF LITTLE HAY HARBOR. 



Summer resort hotel is the Munnatawket. Its broad verandas 
are comfortable and homelike; its rooms cool and inviting, 
and the service excellent. I made up my mind that my friend 
evidently knew of what he was speaking when he said, "Go 
to Fishers' Island." 

The next morning found me ready for an exploring tour 
of the island. An irregular shore line gives it a width of half 
a mile in the narrowest and two and a half miles at the widest 
point ; not too great a walk for the idler. Nine miles is the ex- 




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VIEWS OF WEST HARBOR. 



reme lengffj^ ample room 
for the cycle enthusiast, 
especially as good roads 
abound. I also noticed 
a number of rowboats 
and trim-looking sail- 
boats at anchor in the 
little harbor, and as 
there was a good 
breeze blowing it did 
not take me long to 
find out that they could 
be hired with a competent 
skipper at the helm to see that 
one was well taken care of. 





The l&Hpi 
were soon 
cast off and • 
away we went 
for a few miles of 
brisk sailing over 
the blue water* We 
passed several fish- 
ing parties on our 
way* In an hour we were 
back at the dock, A short walk brought 
me to another hotel, the Mansion House, with another group 



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HOUSE OF MR. WALTON FERGUSON. 







of pretty cottages, whose very appearance bespoke refinement, 
comfort and even luxury. Upon inquiry I found that the 
cottages and hotel were under the same general management* 

I saw everywhere that there is easy access to natural 
harbors and fishing grounds, with magnificent views of the broad, 
sweeping Atlantic and Long Island Sound, while an endless 
panorama of passing vessels, including the largest ships and 
white-sailed pleasure craft of all descriptions, varied here and there 
by the more subdued schooner and freighter of commerce, may 







be seen movin 

slowly along. Tl 

floating palaces 

the Fall River and j! — 

Stonington lint 

pass and repas 

within plain view 

of Fishers' Island, 

while the sight of these 

steamers in the evening, brilliantly 

illuminated, is one to be remembered* 



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UTTLE 










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Tbe BARTLETT COTTAGES 

afe fully furtjisbed. 
Occupants car) either 
keep-bouse of obtain 
rrjeals at tbe Diqir}^ Roorr;, 




Wbicb is 
ceQtfally 
located. 



Ir) tbe price ojvt: eluded 

cbat^e [of cafe of foovqs '$A ^eijefal 
hotel service. j& j* j& ^ *# 
All tbe cottages afe supplied witlj fur) 
x)'\V}% water \Yorq a pufe sprio^ * •** 
Pluri)bir)g ai)d dfaiqa^e strictly sapitafy. 




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THE CHURCH. 
Jelle Hill in the tlistanc 






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A remarkable development of 
the landscape led me to ask to whora^ 
all this careful attention was due. My 
guide explained to me that Messrs. Edmund 
M. Ferguson and Walton Ferguson had 
acquired the island a number of years before. 
They afterwards conceived the idea of making it an 
island of Summer homes, and have shown their belief in its 
future by building costly Summer residences for themselves. 

By the assistance of Mr. Downing Vaux and other landscape 
artists and architects the natural beauty of the island has been 
greatly enhanced. After passing over a group of hills the island 







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s settlement came 
into view, the two 
church spires, Episcopal 
and Union Chapel, being - the 
^B> first to meet the eye. The postoffice, 
\p ]r\ telegraph and long-distance telephone offices' 
are contained in a neat little building ol 
their own, and the schoolhouse and stores 
complete a picturesque little settlement. 




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SOUTH BEACH. 



Perfect bathing, boating and fishing are all inducements to 
the weary wanderer who has long sought for an ideal spot like 
Fishers' Island Golf links, that match in natural features those 
of St. Andrew's, invite the enthusiast in this most popular sport. 




MR. CHIPI '' 

(Oue for rent.) 

It is proposed by the United States Government to erect 
fortifications on the western end of the island. These defensive 
works will be of great strength and will command the eastern 
entrance to Long Island Sound. The attractions and social 





VIEW OF WEST HARBOR. 







features which cluster about an army 
post are not the least of the many benefits which 
residents on Fishers' Island are to enjoy. I was more 
than surprised to note several picturesque lakes of fresh 
water, clear and limpid, only a few feet from the salt water 
of the ocean. But I am wearying you with details. Now 
let us smoke the evening pipe of peace in view of Race Rock 
Light, that silent sentinel of the deep, which guides the mariner 
from the western point of the island. 

When your thoughts run to an island home, where the 



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OVERLOOKING WEST HARBOR. 



ocean breezes never fail to 

jj ^ 1 g health and strength, 

where society is congenial 

and modern comforts 

close at hand, torn 

to Fishers' Island and 

don't wait longer. A 

garden spot like this does not remain long in its primitive 

beauty. 

Fishers' Island, with its many hills and elevations, seems 
by nature to be admirably adapted for building sites. Some of 
the best locations of the island are still undisposed of. On the 




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eastern side, for a distance of a mile 

or two, is the highest bluff along the ^B 

Atlantic shore from Maine to Florida. 

This bluff rises perpendicularly one hundred feet 

from the waves of the ocean that play about its base. There is 

nothing like it south of Maine, and there has not as yet been 

built a single residence along its front. 

In its adaptability for Summer home sites Fishers' Island 
presents advantages rarely found. The hills and dales, the 



proximity of beach and bluff, give the greatest scope to the 
architect or home builder seeking a residence site. The natural 
formation of the island prevents the laying out of regular lots, 
so objectionable to those desirous of change from the straight, 






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SOUTH BE, 



narrow streets so often found at Summer resorts. 
The views from the hills of the island are of such a 
nature that a most charming and diversified aspect is 
presented from all points. 

The water supply is obtained from the many clear 
springs to be found, and the most improved system of 
subsurface drainage has been adopted, so that the beautiful 
harbors and lakes are not in any way impaired. 





Searchers for Summer homes who are solicitous of the 
health of their wives and little ones cannot fail to be impressed 
with the natural advantages of the island. ***** 



E. M. & W. FERGUSON, 

FISHERS' ISLAND. 

n. y. 



